10 Movies To Watch If You Love Black Bag

If it’s edge-of-your-seat thrillers you’re into, look no further than Denis Villeneuve’s breakout hit, Sicario. Between the blistering story crafted by Taylor Sheridan, the camerawork of the legendary Sir Roger Deakins, and the roaring score from the late, great composer, Jóhann Jóhannsson, this 2015 flick is a treat for all the senses.

It’s hard to pick an MVP from this one, with Emily Blunt doing some of her best work in the lead role, while the double act of Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro is formidable in support. Sicario is gripping stuff, and honestly, it is the kind of film you’ll want to watch again and again. I’ve watched it once a year, every year, since it came out, and I’m champing at the bit for my next appointment with this Villeneuve masterpiece.

You can’t discuss spy movies without mentioning 007. But, if you’re new to the James Bond series and just want to dip your toes into his world without watching 20-odd films first, Skyfall is perfectly serviceable on its own merits without being burdened by its predecessors. Think about how The Dark Knight can almost be viewed as a standalone Batman movie, and you’re on the right track with this Bond film.

The action sequences here are out of this world; Nikki Berwick and the stunt team knock every single death-defying moment out of the park, and Daniel Craig’s weary Bond throws himself into the carnage with an unnerving relish. Meanwhile, Javier Bardem puts up one of the great villainous performances of the modern era opposite him – Anton Chigur, eat your heart out!

Michael Fassbender is one of the finest actors of his generation. While his more nuanced work comes in powerful dramas like Shame and Hunger, if you’re after his more hard-hitting side, look no further than David Fincher’s The Killer.

In this Netflix original, Fassbender takes on the role of a contract killer who finds himself in a tangled web of murder plots, backstabbing, and betrayal. It’s as close to Black Bag as you’re likely to get among Fassbender’s filmography to date, and it’s another example of a filmmaker looking to put out fun, flashy movies that don’t take themselves too seriously. 

As you may have expected, this one’s available exclusively on Netflix, and I’m happy to report that watching it at home doesn’t diminish any of the film’s bombastic and brutal qualities.

You know when people say, ‘They don’t make movies like this anymore’? Well, Thief is exactly the kind of movie they’re talking about. Every inch of every frame in this Michael Mann classic is oozing with flair and panache, and not a second is wasted as every moment is filled with compelling character work or searing action.

It’s almost impossible to believe that this was Mann’s feature debut. Thief feels more like the work of a seasoned pro; something Mann has, of course, proven himself to be over the years. Just like Black Bag, you’ll be hooked from the get-go with this ‘80s classic. I watched Thief for the first time only last year, and my only regret is that I hadn’t watched it a hell of a lot sooner!

More ‘80s thrills from another master of his trade, Brian De Palma, with Blow Out offering up a healthy dose of mystery and twists and turns, just like Black Bag. John Travolta has arguably never been better (yes, he’s even better here than in Pulp Fiction), as his character Jack Terry is embroiled in a criminal conspiracy that is not at all what it seems.

The technical elements of Blow Out are simply superb, with exceptional sound design and editing bringing this enthralling, tight thriller to life. It’s all shot with a raw, rough-around-the-edges lens that gives the film an eerie, almost documentarian feel. And, with a runtime of just 108 minutes, you’ll find the wild ride flies by and knocks you for six by the end. 

Cate Blanchett has had quite the career, and a diverse one at that. If you like her work in Black Bag and want to find something remotely similar in her eclectic body of work, The Talented Mr. Ripley will deliver deliciously dark, dramatic moments, a hint of violence, and lots of twists, too.

While Blanchett is not on screen as much as some might like, the performances of Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow as the central trio will more than make up for it, while the late Philip Seymour Hoffman is, as always, a real scene-stealer in his supporting role. 

If you want to watch this one for free, be quick, because (as of this writing) it’s leaving Prime Video in early September 2025.

We’re heading back in time here for one of the genuine classics of a bygone era. Alfred Hitchcock would have loved Black Bag, evidenced by the Master of Suspense having put together one of the most flawless spy movies of all time, North by Northwest. 

This is the ultimate cat-and-mouse tale, and for its time, a film that features some truly special action set-pieces. We’ve all seen that incredible scene of a plane descending on Cary Grant, but there’s so much more to North by Northwest outside of its iconic moments. Ask any filmmaker worth their salt what their inspirations are, especially those who craft thrillers and spy flicks, and North by Northwest will undoubtedly be on the list. It’s smart, scintillating, and simply perfect in every single way. 

The only downside is that it’s not available for free on any streaming service at the time of writing, but it’s so worth paying for.

If we’re talking about cinematic greats, we can’t leave out Billy Wilder. While his comedies, such as The Apartment and Some Like it Hot, steal the spotlight, his noir detective thriller, Double Indemnity, is arguably his most impressive work; if not, certainly his most tense. A quiet and brooding black and white picture, it brims with energy and hits like a hammer blow at every twist and turn.

This film is only just over 100 minutes long (it’s actually ideal if you don’t quite have time for North by Northwest), but it packs so much into that short runtime. Its tricky tale is filled with complex characters that will put the viewer’s moral compass to the test, leading you one way and then another as the mystery unfolds before your eyes. 

This is another that you’ll have to pay for to stream at the moment, but once again, it’s worth every penny.

Before Batman, sprawling science fiction, and Oscar-winning biopics, Christopher Nolan dabbled in gritty detective thrillers like Insomnia. While the film has a decidedly darker edge to it than Black Bag and slightly less action, it’s still an intense and intriguing study of deception, considering what to take at face value, and when to dig deeper.

With Robin Williams taking on one of his more dramatic roles, and the legendary Al Pacino flexing his immense screen presence as always, you’ll not want to take your eyes off this one. It’s wild to think this is low-tier Nolan, but that says a lot more about the filmmaker than the film, trust us. 

The recent Nolan season in UK cinemas left Insomnia off its re-release roster, which is a crying shame. You can check this one out through the BFI Player, though.

Alright, we’ve got all the serious stuff out of the way. Let’s be honest, one of the most appealing facets of Black Bag is the fact that it puts beautiful people into very entertaining, explosive scenarios. So, if you want to go even further into that playful side of the spy genre, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the ideal light watch to cater to your tastes.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bring so much charm to proceedings, and you can totally tell they were having a lot of fun working together on this one. The Doug Liman flick even ticks the box when it comes to the whole, ‘Should I trust my spouse?’ plot point that is the beating heart of Black Bag. In many ways, there is no film on this list more similar to Black Bag, actually. 

Unlike everything else I’ve mentioned, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the ideal date night movie, too, which is always a big bonus!